Many summer days ago, Archan Nair quit his successful family business forever to pursue a hobby. In between changing fashion seasons in 2007, this former garment exporter asked himself the inevitable question, ‘Where do I see myself at 40?’. The answer propelled him out of his cocoon into the world of visual art. A tiny Diwali campaign for Pepsi sealed his fate. What began as a hobby during the several trips he would make abroad, turned into his bread and butter. Wading through oodles of inspiration and with pockets full of creativity, Archan has done it all: projects for Microsoft, Boss, and finally even an application of the iPhone and iPod. At 27, he has been an illustrator, designer, visual artist and art director; calling him a jack of all trades will be underrating him. He says, “This is what gives me a high, I am vulnerable to inspiration, I am always inspired. That’s why I carry a notebook around to jot down the ideas as and when they come.”

Think of him as a cup of creativity, brimming with inspiration, colours and other bright things. There is so much of it in him, that even his voice exuberates this colourful energy. From 6 am every morning, tapping to electronica, he flips through his notebook of ideas and begins his magic. With a larger-than-life desire to learn, he excitedly claims “If I were to go back in time it would have to be to the Egyptian or Mayan civilisations. They learnt from life unlike us cramming from books.” This sums up Archan: Warhol-like inspired and as hyper as a front-row-Beatles fan in the ’60s!

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